Letter from Patty and Steve

From Mark's Aunt and Uncle.

June 7, 2008

Vermont Water Resources Board
58 East State Street
Drawer 20
Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3201

RE: Petition filed by Gary Leavens

Dear Board Members,

In response of the ridiculous petition from Gary Leavens I would like to share the following information. He states that motorized craft are not a traditional activity on Holland Pond. Where has Mr. Leavens been for the last 60 years? My parents owned a camp on Holland Pond before I was born. That was 1948. I was brought up there. My earliest memory of Holland Pond is watching from shore, my parents fish in a motorized craft.

When I was 8 years old I began water skiing on Holland Pond (1956). I have enjoyed this activity on Holland Pond all of my life. To have outsiders come in and try to restrict this activity is just outrageous. My parents also used their motorized crafts to make the lake a safer place for all boaters. Every spring we pulled logs out so all boats, motorized or not would not collide with them. Friends of my parents also had boats and water skied on the Pond. They always used respect for others when enjoying this activity. They were always cautious boaters as we are today.

The beauty of Holland Pond today is as beautiful as it was 60 years ago. My husband and I frequent the Pond and the boats have never been a nuisance. In fact the motorized crafts have rescued many distressed swimmers and boaters alike during the last 60 years.

As far as the wildlife goes there are more loons on the lake now than when I was a child. So obviously the motorized craft has not affected them. The fishing environment is still as wonderful as it has always been. The water is still as clean as I remember it being so many years ago.

I want my grandchildren to be able to use the Pond as I did growing up. I want them to be able to learn to water ski on Holland Pond and enjoy all the water activities that I did. How much better for our children and grandchildren to be enjoying a healthy activity on the Pond rather than being on the streets somewhere else!

In closing I beg the Water Resources Board to listen to the people who have been on Holland Pond all their lives rather than a couple who rents a camp there for a couple of weeks out of the year.

Sincerely,

Stephen and Patricia Rines